Art of manufacturing composite commodity wrappers



Patented July 5, 1949 am* or MANUFACTURING comrfosr'rn coMMonrrrwaarrnas Shy Rosen, New York, N. Y., assignor to Milprint,

Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application September8, 1947, Serial No. 772701 3 Claims. i

The present invention relates generally to improvements in the art ofproducing commodity wrappers, and relates more speciilcally to .animproved reclosable bread wrapper of the general type shown ln mycopending applications Serial No. 681,501, filed July 5, 1946, andSerial No. 718,693, iiled December 27, 1946, and to an -improved mode ofmanufacturing such composite wrappers.

' In my prior applications above identified, I have proposed an improvedwrapper for loaves of bread or the like, consisting primarily of aexible composite wrapper sheet snugly embracing each l-oaf and having areenforcing sheet or strip surrounding the medial portion of thecommodity, and wherein the wrapper is separable into twof complementarycup-,shaped sections along an edge of the reenforclng strip by means ofan elongated tear thread or element so that the reenforcing sheet iscarried by the brim of one section and is telescopically cooperable withthe brim of the other section to reclose the package whenever breadslices are removed. This improved type of bread wrapper has met withconsiderable commercial success, but in all of .reenforcing stripintegral with one of the separable sections of each wrapper, and in suchmanner that the ultimate user of these wrappers may conveniently andproperly position these reenforcing members relative to their nalsupporting or carrying sections. 1

It is therefore a primary object of the present .invention to provide animproved reclosable composite bread wrapper of the telescopic separablesection type, which is composed of a minimum number of parts while beingconveniently applicable to the commodity to eiectively reclose the same.

Another object of my invention is to provide r an improved telescopcallyreclosable wrapper for loaf-like commodity such as sliced bread loaves,which may be manufactured and sold at very moderate cost, and which mayalso be readily assembled for commercial use either at the factory or atthecommodity wrapping zone such as a bakery.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exceedingly simpleseparable and reclosable section wrapper for commodities which arenormally removed and consumed in batches such as slices, which isadapted to be quickly and conveniently opened and reclosed after eachremoval of a batch of the confined material.

Still another specific object of vthis invention is to provide asimplied mode of producing composite wrappers for bread loaves or thelike, in a manner whereby the cost of manufacture thereof is minimizedwhile the speedof production is materially facilitated and enhanced.

These and other objects of my present improvement will be apparent fromthe following detailed description.

A clear conception of the features constituting this improvement, and ofthe mode of constructing and of utilizing several types of reclosablebread wrappers embodying the present invention, may be had by referringto the drawing accompanying and forming a part of this specificationwherein like reference characters designate the same or similar parts inthe various views.

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating the initial stepsinvolved in the production of one type of my present improved reenforcedand reclosable bread wrapper, which are preferably performed at thewrapper stock manufacturing plant;

Fig. 2 is a similarly diagrammatic perspective view showing the mode ofconverting the wrap ping material resulting from the procedure depictedin Fig. 1, into final wrapper stock ready for use;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transverse section through the inal bread wrappingstock produced in accordance with' Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a loaf of sliced bread enclosed in thewrapper of Fig. 3, and showing the tear element or thread for separatingthe wrapper into sections, partially removed;

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic perspective View. similar to that of Fig. 1,but illustrating a method of producing a modified wrapping stock havingthe reenforcing strip and the separating elementl or strip, formeddirectly out of one of the original wrapper sheets;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section through the nal bread wrappingstock produced in accordancewith Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustrating a roll of furthermodified wrapping stock 3 also having the reenforcing strip and theseparating element or strip. formed directly out of or integral with oneof the original wrapper sheets:

Fig. 8 is a similarly diagrammatic perspective view showing the mannerof converting the composite wrapping stock of Fig. 'I into ilnal stockready for use;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged transverse section through the final breadwrapping stock produced in accordance with Figs. 7 and 8; and

Fig. 10 is another diagrammatic perspective view showing a modifiedmethod of forming wrapper stock similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4inclusive, and an improved mode of forming the accessible end of thetear element.

While the invention has been shown and described herein as having beenapplied to produce bread wrappers each having two opaque end sectionsinterconnected by an intervening transparent or window section adaptedto encircle the commodity loaf, it is not my desire or intention tounnecessarily limit the scope or utility of the improvement by virtue ofthis restricted disclosure, since the improved features may also be moregenerally employedin composite wrappers comprising two separable andreclosable sections formed of diverse materials.

In accordance with my present improvement, I provide a flexible wrapperfor sliced bread loaves or the like, comprising a unitary compositesheet normally snugly embracing and enclosing the loaf, and beingcomposed of several flexible individual sheets secured together alongtheir adjacent marginal edges, one of these marginal edges of one sheetbeing reenforced by a strip formed integral with the sheet and foldedthereagainst, and an elongated ilexible tear element associated with thewrapper and being removable to separate the sheets along the unitedm-arginal edges thereof so as to provide two complementary cup-shapedsections adapted to be telescoped over each other in order to reclosethe package. The formation of the reenforcing strip integral with one ofthe marginally united sheets, is an important feature of this inventionsince it reduces to a minimum the number of parts of the compositewrapper, and it also facilitates formation or application of the tearingelement, while additionally reducing the cost of production of thesewrappers. Such a reinforcing strip along the marginal edge or brim ofone of the separated cup-shaped divisions of the opened package, is verydesirable as it permits more convenient ltelescoping of the two sectionsduring reclosing and also more thoroughly seals the joint between thereclosed sections. The element for separating or tearing the sectionsapart may be either a thread or a ilexible strip, and in the latter casethe strip` may also be formed integral with one of the composite, sheetsof the wrapper.

Referring specifically to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the improved breadwrapper and method of production shown therein, involves the use of asupply roll I4 of flexible but rather heavy and relatively tenaciouswrapper stock Il, and another supply roll Il of flexible but rather thinand more readily tearable wrapper stock I1, both of which may becontinuously withdrawn from their supply rolls I4, Il in ilat ribbonform and in superimposed relationship, as illustrated in Fig. l.imposed, the advancing stock ilis severed by a cutter I8 into twosections I9, 20, and immediately followingthe application oi' the stockI1 to these severed sections Il, 20, the opposite marginal However,before the ribbons are superedges of the ribbon I1 are either heatsealed or otherwise adhesively united with -the sections Il, 2li alongelongated areas 2l, 22 the former of which extends along the innermarginal edge of the section I9 and the latter of which extends along amedial portion of the section 20 and forms an elongated reenforcingstrip 24 formed integral with the section 20.

The reenforcing strip 24 thus provided underlies but is not attached tothe thin stock section I1 of the composite ribbon, and this ribbon whichis preferably produced at the factory of origin, may be rolled intocomposite stock supply rolls 25 of suitable size which may be shipped tothe bakery or other place of ultimate utilization. Here the compositewrapper stock may be continuously withdrawn from the supply roll 25. andthe reenforcing strip 24 may be foded back against the inner surface ofits carrying section 20, while an elongated tear element such as a cordor strong thread 28 is inserted within the fold near the adjacentmarginal edge of the medial section Il, as depicted in Fig. 2. Thereenforcing strip 24 may be either heat sealed or otherwise adhesivelyconnected -to the inner surface of the section 20, and the compositewrapper sheet may thereafter be cut into suitable lengths ready for use,but one end of each severed tear element or thread 2-6 may be permittedto protrude slightly from each wrapper as shown in exaggerated conditionin Fig. 3.

Each completed composite but unitary exible wrapper may subsequently beapplied to a loaf of commodity such as sliced bread, as illustrated inFig. 4, wherein the final wrapper snugly embraces and completelyencloses the loaf while the medial wrapper section I1 surrounds themidportion of the bread, and one end of the tear element 26 remainsaccessible from the exterior of the package. The outer ends of thewrapper sections i9, 20 are folded over and either heat sealed oradhesively closed, so as to hermetically seal the contents, but thepackage may be conveniently opened by merely pulling on the exposed endof the thread 26 and causing it to segregate the wrapper into twocomplementary cup-shaped sections or caps, one comprising the sectionsI9, I1, and the other consisting of the section 20 which is internallyreenforced along the segregating line by the strip 24 attached thereto.The tear thread or element 28,may be readily removed by tearing itthrough the fold of the wrapper section 20 and through the relativelythin stock or section I1 along the joined marginal edges of these twoadjoining sections; and after a desired number of slices of bread havebeen removed, the package may be promptly reclosed and sealed topreserve and protect the residual contents, by merely telescoping thereenforced brim of the cup section 20 over the torn free edge of thethin stock section I1.

While the embodiment oi' Fiss. 1 to 4 inclusive, involves the use of aseparate tear element or thread 2B for the purpose of segregating theiinal wrapper into complementary cup-shaped sections, the tearingelement may also be formed integral with one of the wrapper sections, asindicated in Figs. 5 and 6. In accordance with this modified embodimentof my invention, a supply roll I4 of flexible but rather heavy andrelatively tenacious wrapper stock II, and another supply roll I8 offlexible but rather thin and more readily tearable wrapper stock I'I,may likewise be provided and the stock I5, I1 may be constantlywithdrawn in superimposed ribbon arrabbia formation and in superimposedrelationship. as shown in Fig. 5. But before the ribbons aresuperimposed and united, the advancing stock i5 is severed by a cutterI8 into two sections I9, 20 and the section 20 issimultaneously'provided with two parallel lines of perforation-s 28, 29forming an elongated vtear element or strip 30 and a reenforcing strip2d both formed integral with the section 2G. Immediately thereafter, thestrip section il is superimposed upon and is united with the adjacentmarginal edges of the outer sections t9, 2D along elongated areas 2l, 22the former of which extends along the inner marginal edge of the sectioni9 while the latter extends along the outer surface of the tear strip39, the reenforcing strip 2d however remaining free from attachment tothe intermediate strip il,

The reenforcing strip 2li thus provided underlies the thin medialsection l? of the composite stock ribbon, and this strip 2d maysubsequently be folded against the adjacent inner surfaces of the strip30 and section 2t and secured to the latter alone, either at the factoryof origin or at the bakery or other place of iinaly utilization of thestock. As in the case-of Figs. l to 4 inclusive, the final compositestock of Figs. 5 and 6 may be out into successive wrappers of anydesired length, but one end of the tear strip 36 of each length shouldbe allowed to project beyond the end of the wrapper as shown in Fig. 6,so that it may be readily grasped for tearing purposes. Each of the nalmodied wrappers may thereafter be applied to commodity such as a loaf ofsliced bread, in the manner depicted in Fig. 4

and as herelnbefore described; and when the tear strip 30 is removed, itwill tear out an elongated strip of the thin section I1 adhesivelyapplied thereto along the area 22, and will thus segregate the wrapperinto two complementary cupshaped sections or caps adapted to be reclosedby telescoping the reenforcing strip 24 at the brim of one cup over thebrim of the other. In this modification, each composite wrappercomprises only three individual parts, and no separate tear element orthread 26 is necessary.

Both of the embodiments of Figs. 1 to 4 and Figs. 5 and 6, involve theuse of reenforcing strips 2d formed integral with the marginal edges ofthe sections 20 which adjoin the intermediate l wrapper section ll, butthe integral reenforcing strip may filso be otherwise formed asillustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9. In this further modied embodiment ofthe present invention, stock supply rolls of material such as previouslydescribed may be severed and united along areas 2l, 22 to provide acontinuous composite stock ribbon comprising end esctions I9, 2li' andan intervening wrapper section Il, of which the end section 20 isconsiderably wider than the opposite end section i9 and is provided witha row of perforations 3l forming a tear element or strip 32, as shown inFig. 7. This composite ribbon stock may subsequently be folded in themanner depicted in Fig. 8, to cause the portion of the end section 20'nearest the tear strip 32 to assume a position underlying the section20' fand to provide a reenforcing strip 34 formed integral with itscarrying section.

The reenforcing strip 34 thus produced may beadhesively connected to theinner surface of the wrapper section 20' either at the source ofproduction or at the place of nal utilization of the wrappers, but thetear strip 32 should preferably be disposed beyond the inner edge of theend secstrip 32 should be allowed to protrude slightly furA grippingpurposes, beyond the end of each final wrapper which is cut from thecompleted composite ribbon, as shown in Fig. 9. However,

in order to avoid protrusion of the tear elements beyond the ends of thesevered wrappers, .the severed ends may be provided with notches 36 atthe opposite side of each tear strip or element 26 as shown in Fig, 10,wherein the tear thread has been heat sealed to the interior of thesection il. These various modified wrappers may subsequently be appliedto loaf-like commodity such as sliced bread in the manner previouslydescribed, and each package may be quickly opened by removing the tearelement, but may also be readily reclosed and resealed by telescopingthe reenforcing strips 26,' 34 carried by one of the complementarycup-shaped sections 2t, 20 over the brim of the other cup-section il,i9. The wrapper stock of Figs. 8 and 9 may likewise be produced fromonly three individual parts and without utilizing a separate tearelement, since both the tear strip 32 and the reenforcing strip 34 areformed integral with the end section 20.

In each of the four embodiments of the invention shown and describedherein, the reenforcing strip for the closure section of the package, isformed integral with the closure cap, and thus greatly facilitatesproduction of the composite 'wrappers by avoiding necessity of handlingseparate reenforcing strips or ribbons during fabrication of thewrappers. eliminates danger of having the reenforcing strips torn oilbefore the Wrappers are nally utilized, and by also forming the tearelements or strips integral with the adjacent main wrapper sections asin Figs. 6 and 9. production of these composite wrappers is furthersiniplied and facilitated. This latter construction reduces to a minimumthe number of individual parts required to complete the wrappers, andthe integral tear strip 30, 32 may be formed either at the outer edge ofthe end section 20 as in Fig. 9 or at the inner edge of the section 20as in Fig. 6, while the reenforcing strip 24, 34 may be formed integralwith either edge of the same end section. While the several wrappersspecifically illustrated are composed of two end sections formed ofrelatively opaque wax coated paper, and of a medial section formed ofrelatively transparent regenerated cellulose, these specific materialsneed not necessarily be utilized, but the material of the end sectionsshould be rel- ,atively strong and tenacious as compared to that of theintermediate section.

From the foregoing detailed description it will be apparent that mypresent invention provides an improved wrapper for commodity such assliced bread which is adapted to be dispensed piece meal, which iscapable of being conveniently opened and effectively reclosed after eachremoval of a batch of the package contents, so as to seal and protectthe residual commodity. The provision of the reenforcing strip formedintegral with one of the end cap sections, not only reduces the numberof parts required in the production of the composite wrappers, but alsoproduces a more durable and rigid closure cap for reclosing the package;and by forming the tear strip integralwith one of the end sections ofthe wrapper, the number of individual parts is reduced to a minimum andthe cost of production is correspondingly reduced. The invention thusThis construction also of this type which are exceedingly simple anddurable in construction, and which may be readily fabricated with simpleequipment at a. rapid rate and for diverse uses; and while each of theimproved wrappers speciflcally shown and described, comprises threeinterconnected sections. only two such sections are necessary in orderto attain the objects and advantages of my invention. The compositewrappers are preferably formed of flexible wrapper stock adapted to bejoined by heat sealing in a well known manner, so as to provideenclosures which snugly embrace and hug loaf-like commodity of varyingshapes, and may be advantageously utilized for the dispensation andreenclosure oi diverse commodities.

It should be understood that it is not desired to limit this inventionto the exact details of construction or to the precise mode ofproduction of the wrappers, herein shown and described, for variousmodifications within the scope of the appended claims may occur topersons skilled in the art; and it is also contemplated that specificdescriptive terms used herein be given the broadest possibleinterpretation consistent with the disclosure.

I claim:

1. A flexible wrapper for sliced bread loaves or the like, comprising, acomposite flexible sheet snugly embracing and enclosing a bread loaf andbeing composed of at least two edge to edge overlapping sheets one ofwhich consists of stiller flexible material than the other andtheadjacent overlapped edges of which surround the loaf and are securedtogether, a reinforcing strip formed integral with an edge of saidstiffer sheet and be' ing folded thereagainst and secured to saidoverlapped sheet edges, and an elongated flexible tear elementassociated with said reinforcing strip and with said stiffer sheet atsaid overlappedv sheet edges and being progressively removable to tearaway the overlapped edge portion of the more flexible/sheet in order togain access to the loaf by separating the wrapper into two complementaryflexible cup-shaped sections, the brim of the stiffer cup section beingfurther stiffened by the reinforcing strip so as to facilitatetelescopic reclosing and sealing of the package.

2. A flexible wrapper for sliced bread loaves or the like, comprising, acomposite flexible sheet snugly embracing and enclosing a bread loaf andbeing composed of at least two edge to edge overlapping sheets one ofwhich consists of stiffer flexible material than the other and theadjacent overlapped edges of which surround the loaf and are securedtogether, a reinforcing strip formed .integral with an edge of saidstiffer sheet and being folded thereagainst and secured to saidoverlapped sheet edges, and an elongated tear strip formed integral withsaid reinforcing strip and being cooperable with the overlapped edgeportions of said sheets and progressively removable to tear away saidedge portion of the more flexible sheet in order to gain access to theloaf by separating the wrapper into two complementary flexiblecup-shaped sections, the brim of the stiller cup section b eing furtherstiffened by the reinforcing strip so as to facilitate telescopicreclosing and sealing oi' the package.

3. A flexible wrapper for sliced bread loaves or the like. comprising, acomposite exible sheet snugly embracing and enclosing a bread loaf andbeing composed oi' at least two edge to edge overlapping sheets one ofwhich consists of stiffer flexible material than the other and theadjacent overlapped edges of which surround the loaf and are securedtogether, a reinforcing strip formed integral with the free edge of theoverlapped region of said stiller sheet and being folded against andsecured to said sheet adjacent to said free edge, and an elongated tearstrip formed integral with said reinforcing strip and being cooperablewith the overlapped edges of both sheets and progressively removable totear away said edge portion of the more flexible sheet in order to gainaccess to the loaf by separating the wrapper into two complementaryflexible cup-shaped sections, the brim of the stiffer cup section beingfurther stiffened by the reinforcing strip so as to facili tatetelescopic recloslng and sealing of the package.

f SHY ROSEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the ille ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,725,869 Kornsweet Aug. 27, 19291,827,636 Ames Oct. 13, 1931 2,005,665 Saignier June 18, 1935 2,106,748Karnes et al Feb. 1. 1938 2,296,951 Rosen et al Sept. 29, 1942

